-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Experience eventually overcame youthful promise at the Indian Wells Masters on Tuesday , as tennis legend Roger Federer battled to a third-round win over rising star Milos Raonic .

Raonic has already won two titles this season , and was the ATP Tour 's newcomer of the year for 2011 .

The 21-year-old Canadian , ranked 27th in the world , made a bright star to his clash with the former world No. 1 by clinching a first-set tie break .

But Federer , who has won a record 16 grand slam titles since turning pro in 1998 , showed composure to regroup and triumph 6-7 -LRB- 4-7 -RRB- 6-2 6-4 , setting up a last -16 clash with Brazil 's world No. 50 Thomaz Belluci .

`` I guess my experience helped me to stay calm and just weather the storm , '' the 30-year-old third seed told the tournament 's official website .

`` Maybe if I was younger I 'd be more panicky about him hitting aces left and right and making me feel uncomfortable .

`` I have been there so many times before against some of the all-time great servers that it was obviously not going to happen tonight . I just hoped to stay calm . ''

Raonic , seeded 23rd for the U.S. hard-court event , was pleased with his overall performance , but rued his lack of experience .

`` I think I hit the ball well , '' he said . `` I just was picking the wrong shot , and this is what makes the difference , but with experience hopefully I catch on to that . ''

Federer 's longtime rival Rafael Nadal strolled into the fourth round with a 6-1 6-4 success against fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers .

The second seed , runner-up here last year , will face Ukrainian 21st seed Alexandr Dolgopolov in the last 16 as he heads towards a semifinal showdown with Federer .

Nadal 's fifth-seeded compatriot David Ferrer is out following a shock 6-4 6-3 defeat to Uzbekistan 's 51st-ranked Denis Istomin .

Istomin earned a clash with Argentina 's 2009 U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro , who maintained his quest for a second title of 2012 by beating Spanish 19th seed Fernando Verdasco .

Sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will meet former world No. 3 David Nalbandian of Argentina after beating Czech No. 28 Radek Stepanek .

In the women 's draw , Serbia 's Ana Ivanovic booked a place in the quarterfinals by winning the battle of the former world No. 1s against recently displaced Caroline Wozniacki .

Ivanovic , who occupied top spot after winning the French Open in 2008 but is now ranked 16th , recorded a 6-3 6-2 against the Danish fourth seed -- who lost her No. 1 ranking following Victoria Azarenka 's triumph at January 's Australian Open .

`` I did n't do much wrong today besides the first few games on my serve , '' Ivanovic , 24 , told the WTA 's website .

`` I 'm really pleased the way I was aggressive , and how I just stayed in the match and played point by point . I did everything I should have done today . ''

Seventh seed Marion Bartoli awaits Ivanovic in the last eight , following the Frenchwoman 's win over Czech No. 23 Lucie Safarova .

The top two seeds remain on track for a final showdown after both Azarenka and three-time grand slam champion Maria Sharapova won , against Germany 's Julia Gorges and Italian Roberta Vinci respectively .

Next up for Belarus ' Azarenka is Polish fifth seed Agnieszka Radwanska , who benefited from the retirement of American wildcard Jamie Hampton due to cramps in the third and deciding set of their match .

Russian No. 2 Sharapova will play 20th-seeded compatriot Maria Kirilenko , while the remaining quarterfinal tie pits China 's French Open champion Li Na against German No. 18 Angelique Kerber .

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Former world No. 1 Roger Federer defeats 23rd seed Milos Raonic at Indian Wells

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Second seed Rafael Nadal advances after win over fellow Spaniard Marcel Granollers

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Ana Ivanovic beats Caroline Wozniacki in the battle of the former world No. 1s

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Top seed Victoria Azarenka and No. 2 Maria Sharapova safely advance